Global asset management firm CQS has named Jason Walker as a portfolio manager for the CQS ABS Fund, with a focus on European RMBS and global CMBS.

Walker joins CQS from Henderson Global Investors in London where he has been an investment manager for the Henderson European ABS Opportunities Fund. He has had previous experience in various portfolio management and trading roles with the Bank of Scotland, London, TD Securities and Abbey National.

The CQS ABS Fund was launched in October 2006 and has achieved an annualized net return to investor of 44.04% from inception to the end of January 2010.

Meanwhile, CQS has also hired Jessica Hadad as an analyst, with a particular focus on due diligence. Hadad joins CQS from Vertical Capital Investment Advisors in New York, where she was an investment analyst with responsibility for detailed credit analysis and stress testing of MBS and ABS investments. She previously worked at Ernst & Young.

“The opportunities in ABS continue to be very attractive,” said Michael Hintze, CEO of CQS. “Adding depth to the ABS team will allow us to take further advantage of the growing opportunity set for the benefit of our investors. I am very pleased we have been able to attract such high caliber people.”

CQS is a global diversified asset management group with a focus on convertibles, asset backed securities and credit portfolios. As at Jan. 31, CQS had US$6.6 billion of assets under management.